Kutz (Kuts, Kuz, Coots) is a German surname with several origins. Some time ago it was considered that this word is derived from the Middle High German word "kötze" or “kütze”, which means a woven basket (Tragekorb) or a kind of a coarse woolen garment (Oberkleid). Subsequently, the name was believed to derive from the Old Polish–Lithuanian word "kucina", which means a cudgel-like weapon. However, currently an opinion prevails that etymologically the name Kutz is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "kūtiō". According to the Starling linguist's database,
[Starostin, Sergei A. “STARLING” or "The Tower of Babel"] this word originally referred to birds of prey, not specified by kind. During the 14th and 18th centuries the word passed through a number of grammatical transformations from "kūtze" to "kutz", and finally into "kauz",. At present, this word translates from German as "owl".
The last name Kutz was previously common in Prussia. In the 17th to 20th centuries, East Prussia was periodically captured by Poland, Germany or the Russian Empire. This may account for some Kutz in central and eastern Europe. Kutz is also a Germanized respelling of Polish
Kuc, a nickname for a short person from a noun meaning "pony".
Notable people
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George Kutz (18th century), founder of the city named in his honor, Kutztown in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
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Charles Willauer Kutz (1870–1951), General US Army, American politician, President of the District of Columbia Board
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J. Fred Coots
John Frederick Coots (May 2, 1897 – April 8, 1985) was an American songwriter. He composed over 700 popular songs and over a dozen Broadway shows. In 1934, Coots wrote the melody with his then chief collaborator, lyricist Haven Gillespie, for t ...
(1897–1985), American composer
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José Nathan Kutz (1969), American scientist in the field of Mathematical Neuroscience, Professor within the Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Washington.
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Kazimierz Julian Kutz (1929–2018), Polish film director, author, journalist and politician, one of the representatives of the Polish Film School and a deputy speaker of the Senate of Poland
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K'utz Chman, king who laid foundations for Mayan civilisation in 700 B.C.
[Atwood R. Tomb of the Vulture Lord //Archaeology, Sept/Oct 2013, P.1-3] "Kutz Chman" translates from the Mayan language as "old condor" or "old vulture".
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Vladimir Kuts
Volodymyr Petrovych Kuts ( uk, Володимир Петрович Куц, russian: Владимир Петрович Куц, 7 February 1927 – 16 August 1975) was a Soviet long-distance runner. He won the 5000 and 10000 m races at the 1956 ...
(1927–1975), Soviet long-distance runner and athletics coach, Olympic gold medallist at the 1956 Olympics
See also
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Kutz Mill
Kutz Mill is a historic grist mill complex located on Sacony Creek in Greenwich Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is adjacent to the Kutz's Mill Bridge. The complex includes the 1 1/2-story, stone mill (c. 1850); brick farmhouse (1855); ...
, historic grist mill in Pennsylvania
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Kutz's Mill Bridge
Kutz's Mill Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge located at Greenwich Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is a , Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1854. It crosses the Sacony Creek. It is one of five covered bridges remaining in Berk ...
, historic wooden covered bridge in Pennsylvania
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Kutz Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C
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Kutz-Bauer v Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, an EU labour law case
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Friedrich Traugott Kützing
Friedrich Traugott Kützing (8 December 1807 in Ritteburg – 9 September 1893) was a German pharmacist, botanist and phycologist.
Despite his limited background in regard to higher education, Kützing made significant scientific contributio ...
, phycologist who used the standard author abbreviation "Kütz"
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Kuts
References
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